#2104

Re: totally random thread

so I'm cashing in some PTO and just road tripped the shit out of Colorado. Slept somewhere new for the past 6 nights in a row.

11pm this evening I come around a bend on a highway in the middle of nowhere when I saw random cell phone lights waving for my attention along the roadside. I stop to see what's up.

It's a couple, two apparent drifters, and particularly mangy looking ones at that. "Is there any way you could give us a ride to be next town? The sheriff just won't help us out."

"Sorry, we're all packed for a road trip and have no room left in the truck." That was the truth. The bums look even more bummed as I drive off.

In hindsight, dunno quite why I stopped. Would you have?

(And now there are a million different scenarios about the whole thing randomly going through my head. I can't get the situation out of the brain to the point I can't sleep. Now if you'll excuse me I gotta go find some Kleenex)

#2106

Re: totally random thread

ousdahl wrote:

...In hindsight, dunno quite why I stopped. Would you have?...

No.

I used to be all about helping people in need with little regard for the circumstance or situation, but as much as it bothers me as a bleeding heart liberal to have a calculus about such things, risking my well-being with no way to know the odds of the return on that risk, isn't a gamble I'm willing to take anymore.

Put me in a hospital room, ER, county health clinic, etc., where I can control the risk to some extent, and I'll spend any amount of time and effort doing the greater good with no thought about reimbursement. But, a dark highway in the middle of nowhere with people who appear to have a history of dysfunctional adaptation to life and as a consequence, little to lose? No thanks.

“The best way I can describe it is, having a diaper on and never changing it. And just sitting in that diaper the whole year.”N.Y. Jet, Brandon Marshall. Speaking of last season’s disastrous 5 -11 record

#2111

Re: totally random thread

Shirley wrote:

ousdahl wrote:

...In hindsight, dunno quite why I stopped. Would you have?...

No.

I used to be all about helping people in need with little regard for the circumstance or situation, but as much as it bothers me as a bleeding heart liberal to have a calculus about such things, risking my well-being with no way to know the odds of the return on that risk, isn't a gamble I'm willing to take anymore.

Put me in a hospital room, ER, county health clinic, etc., where I can control the risk to some extent, and I'll spend any amount of time and effort doing the greater good with no thought about reimbursement. But, a dark highway in the middle of nowhere with people who appear to have a history of dysfunctional adaptation to life and as a consequence, little to lose? No thanks.

I hear ya. Part of me wanted to make sure shit was okay.

Part of me wanted to help.

Part of me wanted to ask why the eff they would use those tactics in that place to basically hitch hike.

Part of me wanted to ask exactly why the sheriff wouldn't help, or why/whether the sheriff was involved in the first place.

Part of me should have called the sheriff either way.

Part of me wanted to remind them that neither I nor the sheriff is a taxicab, and ask why they couldn't use their phones to call an uber or make other arrangements.

Part of me felt like those cell phone lights were the lights on the head of that freaky deep sea fish, and I was a prey fish being lured in.

Part of me wondered what's he worst that can happen.

Part of me wondered what's the best that can happen.

Part of me remembered that legally there is no duty to act, and I can only be liable for something if I do.

Part of me wanted to tell them that their revolution is over. Condolences! My advice to you is to do what your parents did: get a job, sir!

Part of me considered that scary movies start out like this.

Part of me considered that porno movies start out like this too.

Part of me wanted to ask why I should trust them.

Part of me wanted to ask why they should trust me. "you're gonna just flag down some car in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere and assume I'm NOT gonna chop you up into little pieces?"

Part of me wanted to say, fuck it, pick em up, maybe it'll make the drive more interesting.

Part of me wanted to be a true capitalist and, with such a ride in high demand, commence another chapter in the art of the deal. Gas, grass, or ass. No free rides yo!

All of me is glad I had a reasonable excuse to politely decline and just drive off.

Re: totally random thread

#2122

Re: totally random thread

(And holy shit I just realized I spent 120 bucks to rent pants and a vest for 2 days, what a joke. Didn't even have a full suit. If I had known I would have asked the groom to just have us go buy pants and a vest for less, and they could have actually matched that way too)

#2123

Re: totally random thread

A couple of decades ago, a good friend got married in a sharp business suit. The groomsmen (I was one of them) wore khakis and blue blazers with red ties. It was a tight look. When the bride complained about the lack of formality on "her" day, he reminded her it was his day too. I liked that.